H.^34

The society has formed observing sections for special purposes, such as variable stars, sun-spots, planetary observations, comet-searching, star-colours, aurora and zodiacal light and meteors. All are producing valuable results, and it may be fairly said that New Zealand is producing, as a result of this systematic work, astronomical observations of world-wide interest. The southern latitude and the longitude nearly twelve hours different from Europe makes the country favourable for astronomical students. " New Zealand Nautical Almanac." An article on the Dominion time-service arrangements, giving full particulars of all the time signals supplied by the Dominion Observatory, was prepared for and published in the New Zealand Nautical Almanac. Summer Time Act. The Summer Time Act, 1929, provided for the time in New Zealand being half an hour in advance oI New Zealand standard time for the period beginning at 2 a.m. New Zealand standard time on Sunday, 1932, October 9th, and ending at 2 a.m. New Zealand standard time, on Sunday, 1933, March 19. Seismology. General. During the year 1932 continuous seismological records were obtained at the Dominion Observatory, Wellington ; the Magnetic Observatory, Christchurch ; and from subsidiary stations at Suva, Arapuni, New Plymouth, Hastings, and Takaka. On January 14th a consignment of Milne-Jaggar seismographs of the vertical boom type was received from Dr. T. A. Jaggar, Honolulu. One of these seismographs was immediately erected at this Observatory, and during the course of the year several new stations were established, and the older type Milne-Jaggar seismographs were replaced at some of the existing stations. Special precautions have been taken at this Observatory to enable the seismographs to continue recording throughout a severe earthquake should such occur. All Milne-Jaggar seismographs are being fitted with devices to enable them to record a severe shock without being dismantled. Seismological Stations. New seismological stations were established at Chatham Islands, Tuai, Bunnythorpe, and Greymouth. The Milne seismograph at the Magnetic Observatory, Christchurch, was transferred to the Chatham Islands in January, and placed in charge of the Superintendent of the Chatham Islands Radio Station (Mr. L. J. Elliston). Owing to difficulties regarding the erection of the seismograph, regular records were not obtained until August. In September a Milne-Jaggar was erected at Tuai and placed in charge of the Resident Electrical Engineer (Mr. W. H. Gregory). In October another Milne-Jaggar was established at the Bunnythorpe substation, in charge of Mr. W. A. Waters, Chief Engineer of the Manawatu-Oroua Electric-power Board. In November a third Milne-Jaggar seismograph was erected at Greymouth in charge of Mr. T. A. Johnston, District Engineer, Public Works Department. The following is a complete list of seismological stations operating in New Zealand and surrounding islands on 31st December, 1932.

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Position. Station. Instruments. Person or Institution in Charge. Latitude. Longitude. o / o / Apia .. .. 13 48 S. 171 47 W. Wiechert, three components .. Apia Observatory. Suva .. .. 18 9 S. 178 26 E. Milne, twin-boom .. .. Miss Mune. Arapuni .. 38 5 S. 175 39 E. Milne, E.-W. .. .. District Engineer, Public Works Department. Tuai .. .. 38 48 S. 177 9 E. Milne-Jaggar .. .. .. Resident Electrical Engineer. Public Works Department. New Plymouth.. 39 4 S. 174 4 E. / od f nderson •• •■ J \ Milne-Jaggar .. .. .. C. E. Morshead. Hastings .. 39 38 S. 176 53 E. Milne-Jaggar .. .. .. H. de Denne. *Dannevirke .. 40 12 S. 176 7 E. Milne-Jaggar.. .. .. L. Bastings, M.Sc. Bunnythorpe .. 40 17 S. 175 36 E. Milne-Jaggar .. .. .. W. A. Waters. Takaka .. 40 17 S. 172 48 E. Imamura, three components .. W. J. Smith. f Wood-Anderson .. ,. | Galitzin-Wilip Wellington .. 41 17 S. 174 46 E. ■{ Milne-Shaw, two components .. )■ Dominion Observatory. Milne-Jaggar .. L Ishimoto Clinograph ♦Seatoun .. 41 19 S. 174 48 E. " Inverted Pendulum .. .. C. J. Westland, F.R.A.S. Greymouth .. 42 25 S. 171 13 E. Milne-Jaggar .. .. .. T. A. Johnston. *Glenmuick .. 42 54 S. 173 9 E. Inverted Pendulum .. .. A. S. Westland. Christchureh .. 43 32 S. 172 37 E. { C o mponents JMagnetic Observatory. Chatham Islands 43 57 S. 176 31 W. Milne .. .. .. L. J. Elliston. * Privately owned stations.